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Blizzard may have shut down the Real Money Auction House after contention from the community, but it's opening up a new way to potentially use real money for in-game items. The difference here is that it's doing it in territories that are pretty accustomed to this sort of thing already -- most likely China. On the developer's American and European forums, an employee writes that an upcoming patch will add a new currency ("platinum"), timed experience boosts, cosmetic items, character slots and a tweaked UI to handle all of the above. Basically, the type of microtransactions that are fairly common in free-to-play games. As Gamasutra notes, Blizzard already has a partnership with NetEase (a Chinese internet company that has a web portal and its own massively multiplayer role-playing game), which operates a version of Diablo 3 in the country. All that to say, this makes sense for Blizzard.

Activision is making a new Guitar Hero game for release this year, according to Kotaku UK. This would be the first Guitar Hero game in four years, after Activision officially called off development of the series in February 2011, following the underwhelming release of Guitar Hero 5. Two people offered the site a smattering of details about a new Guitar Hero, including that the art will be "more realistic" than the franchise's traditional cartoonish style, and the game will include new guitar peripherals. All of this is in development for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, according to the report, and we should see an announcement at E3 in June.

The very conceit of PlayStation 4'sShare Play feature is futuristic as all get-out, but it has a dark side too. Take 5th grader Henry Kramer's recent Destiny woes for example. After virtually passing his DualShock 4 to another player to access a glitch that Kramer hoped would quickly boost his characters, the other party urged him to go grab something from another room as a distraction, according to Eurogamer. Twitch viewers (Kramer was streaming at the time) watched as the nefarious user proceeded to delete two of his three characters: a nearly maxed out level 31 Warlock and a level 26 Titan, but it wasn't until Kramer came back that he saw the damage done. You can hear him crying upon his realization in the video linked here, and, well, it's hard to not be affected by it at least a little bit.

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ActivisionBungieDestinygaminghdhdpostcrossInternetps4shareplaytrollsMon, 23 Feb 2015 23:32:00 -050021|21145854http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/world-of-warcraft-outlines-februarys-events/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/world-of-warcraft-outlines-februarys-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/world-of-warcraft-outlines-februarys-events/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
There are a lot of holiday events in World of Warcraft this month. February contains the Lunar Festival, Love is in the Air, the Darkmoon Faire... heck, it's also going to be the month that the next major raid opens up. Luckily for avid World of Warcraft players, the official site has put together a comprehensive schedule of the month's festivities, starting with the Valentine's Day event and the new raid opening tomorrow.

Astute readers will note that Blizzard suggests players prepare for patch 6.1 with no hints about when it's coming out. Whether this means it's going to be later in the month or won't be dropping until March remains to be seen. Then again, the raiding crowd will have plenty to do through the month with Blackrock Foundry, and if you like holiday events, you've got several of those coming around as well.

This Month in WoW
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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdungeondungeonsendgameendgame-contenteventsfantasyin-game-eventsnewsnews-itemspreviewraidraidswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 02 Feb 2015 17:00:00 -0500319|21137983http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/30/rumor-blizzard-leak-reveals-next-world-of-warcraft-expansion-to/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/30/rumor-blizzard-leak-reveals-next-world-of-warcraft-expansion-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/30/rumor-blizzard-leak-reveals-next-world-of-warcraft-expansion-to/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
So, ready to jump on the rumor mill? Because it's churning out big stuff about Blizzard today. An anonymous source from inside the company has apparently claimed that World of Warcraft's next expansion has quadrupled its art outsourcing and is nearly feature-complete. The source also claimed that Hearthstone is doing banner business, with its next expansion set to release in April with a heavier PvE focus.

Darker news was revealed for the other franchises under the company's banner. The next part of StarCraft II is done but with no release date. Overwatch is in the midst of debates over business model and payment plans, with the studio pushing for a 2015 release but most likely going for 2016. Meanwhile, Heroes of the Storm has low expectations among the upper management and the Diablo III team has been "completely gutted." It's up to you you believe the rumors, of course, although come April, they might look rather plausible.

Reddit
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action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-all-starsblizzard-dotablizzard-entertainmentcash-shopccgccgmmod3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasyfirst-person-shootergothic-fantasyhearthstoneheroes-of-the-stormmobamultiplayernewsnews-itemsofpsonline-multiplayeronline-shooteroverwatchroguelikerpgrumorrumorsscsc2sci-fi-superherosciistarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iisuperherotcgtcgmmoteam-shootertrading-card-gamewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 30 Jan 2015 15:00:00 -0500319|21137260http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/world-of-warcraft-adds-selfie-support/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/world-of-warcraft-adds-selfie-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/world-of-warcraft-adds-selfie-support/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Were you afraid that with the addition of Twitter support in the next World of Warcraft patch you would be deprived of the joy that is taking selfies in-game? Worry no longer. The addition of the S.E.L.F.I.E. camera in patch 6.1 ensures that you can indeed log in, find a nice view, and then duckface at the camera before shooting off a character picture for all of your devoted followers. It's the best thing in the expansion so far.

Grabbing the item requires nothing more than a rare follower mission with no significant bells or whistles, with another upgrade mission available to pick up a set of various filters for the camera. Our sister site has a guide to making use of the new device, along with the requisite speculation that it will tie more directly into the Twitter integration. That feature isn't currently enabled, but it can't be coincidence that the new camera arrived at the same time, can it?

WoW Insider
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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentculturefantasyhumornewsnews-itemspatchpatchesscreenshotscreenshotsupdateupdateswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 27 Jan 2015 11:00:00 -0500319|21135408http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/destiny-dev-dlc-mistakes-wont-be-repeated/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Joystiq&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/destiny-dev-dlc-mistakes-wont-be-repeated/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/destiny-dev-dlc-mistakes-wont-be-repeated/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Joystiq#commentsDestiny designer Luke Smith recently addressed concerns over Bungie's future updates for the game. Namely, Smith said "the mistakes [Bungie] made with the DLC1 reward economy will not be repeated," in a NeoGAF thread, admitting the developer's previous attempts at expanding the first-person shooter with add-on content resulted in a few problems for players. Smith claims the developer will avoid mistakes such as "vendor gear invalidating the effort of [Vault of Glass] Raiders" and exotic gear upgrades resulting in a talent reset.

"Our philosophy about rewards/loot continue to evolve as we see how players play and react," Smith wrote. He noted that item drop rates appear to be "much improved" in the Crota's End DLC compared to Vault of Glass, and that Bungie plans to "improve acquisition stories and frequency" as well as "lessen the grind and get players to the fun parts of their arsenal faster." It issued a hot fix for Destiny in December to boost the drop rates for the Crota's End raid mission.

KotakuNeoGAF
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activisionadd-onbungiecrotas-enddestinydlcdownloadable-contentdrop-ratesfirst-person-shooterfpsissuesluke-smithmicrosoftmistakesplaystationproblemsps3ps4updatevault-of-glassxboxxbox-oneMon, 26 Jan 2015 17:30:00 -050011|21134836http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/world-of-warcraft-unleashes-the-full-patch-6-1-patch-notes/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/world-of-warcraft-unleashes-the-full-patch-6-1-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/world-of-warcraft-unleashes-the-full-patch-6-1-patch-notes/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
The first major patch for World of Warcraft's latest expansion is here! If by "here" you mean "on the test realm," anyhow. So not here at all. The opposite of here; still preparing to be here. One might even go so far as to say it's there. But the full (preliminary) patch notes for the test realm are available right now for those who'd like to see what's around the corner aside from brand-new Blood Elf models.

Garrison fans will have plenty of things to enjoy, with new visitors offering quests, new follower missions, and a new music box available. Players can also make use of a new Twitter integration feature and the new heirloom collection tab. Several classes are also seeing talent and balance adjustments, including across-the-board buffs to healer damage output for adventuring in the world. No word yet on when the patch will drop, but you can see what it contains from the patch notes.

Patch 6.1 PTR notes
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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentclassclass-balanceclass-mechanicsclassesfantasygame-mechanicsnewsnews-itemspatchpatchestesttest-patchtest-realmupdateupdateswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 26 Jan 2015 16:00:00 -0500319|21134749http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-why-arent-mmos-more-social/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-why-arent-mmos-more-social/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-why-arent-mmos-more-social/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
On Friday, Alex Albrecht from ZergID and formerly of the Totally Rad Show headed up a PAX Southpanel about the social side of MMOs, inviting Patrick Mulhern from Lorehound, Jenesee Grey from Camelot Unchained, and me to join to discuss community in MMOs and why it's seemed so absent in recent years. Meg Campbell from YouTube moderated the panel discussion, calling us the PAX MMO guild.

I admit that I considered naming this piece, "How Star Wars Galaxies did everything right and World of Warcraft did everything wrong" because I am obviously biased. But I really was completely surprised at how much SWG came up during the panel. Many former Galaxies players will tell you that there was a lot about that game that was pure crap, but when you talk about the social implementations of SWG, there just aren't many games that compare.

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activisionalex-albechtblizzardblizzard-entertainmentclassic-mmoconconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpofantasyfeaturedgalaxiesjenesee-greylarry-everettmassively-event-coveragemeg-cambellpatrick-hulhernpaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-exposandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 26 Jan 2015 11:00:00 -0500319|21134518http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/wows-new-blood-elves-arrive-in-update-6-1/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/wows-new-blood-elves-arrive-in-update-6-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/wows-new-blood-elves-arrive-in-update-6-1/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Our sister site WoW Insider reports this morning that World of Warcraft's Blood Elves, left off the roster of races that received model revamps with the Warlords of Draenor expansion last November, will finally meet their new faces. Actually, it's just the bodies: The male faces aren't entirely done yet and currently share the same facial geometry.

"While we're excited to share with you our progress on these new models, I do want to stress that the models, textures, and animations are not entirely finished. Bug fixing and iteration can and will occur, and that's where you come in!" writes Blizzard QA on the US and EU forums, soliciting costructive feedback.

MMO Champion has full-size, head-to-toe bikini shots of both the female and male models because of course it does.

WoW InsiderMMO Champion, Blizz forums
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activisionbelfblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblood-elfcharacter-modelsdraenorexpansionfantasymmo-championpatch-6.1warcraftwarlords-of-draenorwodworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderFri, 23 Jan 2015 11:00:00 -0500319|21133958http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/world-of-warcraft-player-hits-100th-level-100/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/world-of-warcraft-player-hits-100th-level-100/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/world-of-warcraft-player-hits-100th-level-100/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Do you like playing World of Warcraft? Would you like to play a thousand levels of World of Warcraft? Because the player known as Watola did just that. Watola has 100 characters at level 100, a project that started during the exceptionally long twilight of Mists of Pandaria. With 20 characters already at the level cap back then, another 80 apparently seemed like a doable project, which started a cycle of very efficient leveling and copious use of recruit-a-friend tricks.

The method outlined on the the forums involves essentially rotating through full rest state on various characters and having a set plan of attack, along with using tank characters via recruit-a-friend to ensure that queues for dungeons are more straightforward. If you'd like to do the same, it's still perfectly functional now, although you'll have to do so knowing full well that you can never have a world-first level 1,000. (That seems a fair nod for the achievement.)

Kotaku100 Max Level Characters
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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentculturefantasylevellevel-caplevelinglevelsnewsnews-itemstop-levelwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Jan 2015 14:00:00 -0500319|21133568http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/exo-zombies-invade-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-trailer/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Joystiq&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/exo-zombies-invade-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/exo-zombies-invade-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-trailer/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Joystiq#comments
The latest trailer for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare shows off the game's upcoming downloadable content, Exo Zombies. Arriving as part of the first content pack, Havoc, Exo Zombies features the voice acting talents of John Malkovich, Bill Paxton, Rose McGowan and Jon Bernthal. The Havoc DLC pack will launch on January 27 for Xbox One and Xbox 360. Havoc also includes four multiplayer maps, the AE4 assault rifle and Widowmaker custom variant.

While the Havoc DLC can be purchased separately for $15, season pass holders will receive the pack at no additional charge. Advanced Warfare's $50 season pass grants access to three other pieces of downloadable content: Ascendance, Supremacy and Reckoning. Activision struck a deal with Microsoft to bring Advanced Warfare DLC to the Xbox platforms before it arrives on other systems, so the publisher has yet to offer a release date for Havoc on PS4, PS3 or PC.

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Activisionadd-onCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-advanced-warfaredlcdownloadable-contentexo-zombiesfirst-person-shooterfpshavocmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ps4sledgehammer-gamestrailerxboxxbox-onezombiesWed, 21 Jan 2015 10:30:00 -050011|21132419http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/did-you-get-a-world-of-warcraft-anniversary-statue/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/did-you-get-a-world-of-warcraft-anniversary-statue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/did-you-get-a-world-of-warcraft-anniversary-statue/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
The World of Warcraft community is abuzz with the revelation that Blizzard is sending out a special thank-you to its most dedicated fans for its 10th anniversary: a physical 9" statue of an Orc.

Only fans who have been with the game for the entire ride are eligible to get the statue, however,. According to Blizzard's qualifications, "A player must have created a World of Warcraft account within 60 days of the game launching in the NA or EU regions and maintained their subscription or game time for all 10 years."

Our question today is, if you qualify for this, have you indeed received your spiffy statue? And do you have a picture to prove it?

JoystiqWoW Insider, Battle.net
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10th-anniversaryactivisionanniversaryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyorcstatuewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 20 Jan 2015 10:30:00 -0500319|21132168http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/18/wow-archivist-10-years-10-amazing-moments/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/18/wow-archivist-10-years-10-amazing-moments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/18/wow-archivist-10-years-10-amazing-moments/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsWoW Archivist is a biweekly column by WoW Insider's Scott Andrews, who explores the secrets of World of Warcraft's past. What did the game look like years ago? Who is etched into WoW's history? What secrets does the game still hold? It first appeared on our sister site on January 1616, 2015, and is included here by permission.

In 2004, I bought a brown box with some discs inside it. On the cover was a close-up of a woman with crazy purple eyebrows and an angry bearded guy -- possibly Matt Rossi -- holding a gun. I didn't know anything about the Warcraft universe at the time. I'd watched someone play Warcraft III once (or was it II?). I remember chuckling at the peons' comments as they got to work. That was the extent of my experience.

I'd been playing Final Fantasy XI, and I loved the concept of an online world. I was hoping for a game that was more accessible than FFXI but with all the cool monsters, grouping, exploration, and loot. I never imagined the journey that I was about to take, the people I would meet, the opportunities that would become open to me as a result of that purchase. Many of us who played back then had no idea what was about to happen to the gaming world because of that brown box.

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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentscott-andrewswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-archivistwow-insiderSun, 18 Jan 2015 12:00:00 -0500319|21130868http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/the-usual-suspects-dominate-decembers-raptr-rankings/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/the-usual-suspects-dominate-decembers-raptr-rankings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/the-usual-suspects-dominate-decembers-raptr-rankings/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Do you quote Raptr data when having unscientific discussions about MMO playerbase numbers? If so, rejoice, because here are some more numbers based on a sample size of dubious value!

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aaactivisionanetarche-agearcheagearenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbuy-to-playconsoleconsolesdatafantasyffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfunny-mathfuzzy-mathguessworkguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpvpraptrsandboxsandparksquaresquare-enixtriontrion-worldswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowxl-gamesxlgamesSat, 17 Jan 2015 18:00:00 -0500319|21131056http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/world-of-warcraft-dispels-free-to-play-veteran-edition-rumors/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/world-of-warcraft-dispels-free-to-play-veteran-edition-rumors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/world-of-warcraft-dispels-free-to-play-veteran-edition-rumors/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Pretty much anything in the world will start the World of Warcraft free-to-play rumors these days, but this set of rumors had a bit of basis in reality, at least. Datamining uncovered references to a "Veteran Edition" for players, which prompted speculation that it would be a preferred account status for players who were on the free side but still had played in the past. It turns out that's not quite accurate, but it's also not entirely wrong: Veteran Edition will allow players to play for free, essentially, with Starter Edition restrictions.

Community Manager Bashiok addressed the rumors, explaining that while someone who never had played the game before could jump in with Starter Edition restrictions, veteran players could not. Veteran Edition, then, places almost all of the same restrictions on players, but it will allow you to roll up a new character and play through level 20 or at least log in to chat with friends. No word on exactly when this will be rolled out, but it should put the free-to-play rumors to bed until they start again in a month.

WoW InsiderForum posting
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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusiness-modelbusiness-modelsf2pfantasyfree-to-playnewsnews-itemsrumorsspeculationstarter-editionsubscriptionsubscriptionsveteran-editionwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 16 Jan 2015 10:00:00 -0500319|21130747http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/activision-takes-victory-lap-destiny-biggest-new-game-franchise/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Joystiq&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/activision-takes-victory-lap-destiny-biggest-new-game-franchise/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/activision-takes-victory-lap-destiny-biggest-new-game-franchise/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Joystiq#comments
Let us be colloquial: Activision makin' mad bank, yo. Like, all the cheddar. The publisher took a victory lap this morning, reiterating the top placement of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare during yesterday's NPD, the success of Skylanders among children and making a pertinent addendum to Destiny's sales in 2014.

Last night, US retail tracking group NPD released its year-end data, with Destiny ranked third behind Call of Duty and Madden NFL 15. Activision noted this morning that Destiny was in second place "among all titles in the U.S. in 2014, based on revenue." This would reflect the significant digital distribution push Destiny had, as well as the special editions and expansion bundles.

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2014ActivisionActivision-Blizzardcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-advanced-warfaredestinymicrosoftplaystationps3ps4skylandersxboxxbox-oneFri, 16 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -050011|21130751http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/destiny-crotas-end-hard-mode-coming-jan-21/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Joystiq&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/destiny-crotas-end-hard-mode-coming-jan-21/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/destiny-crotas-end-hard-mode-coming-jan-21/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Joystiq#comments
Next week, 'Crota's End' will get its revenge for all of the cheesy tactics used by Destiny players (maybe us included, maybe not. What's it to you?).

Bungie is unlocking hard mode for the latest raid on January 21, the developer revealed in an update today. In Crota's End hard mode, both Crota and standard enemies will be far more challenging. Thankfully, though, the mode features swanky new loot.

Those stamping out Crota in the mode will have a chance to earn powerful new primary weapons (see them after the break!), an exclusive color palette and a devious-looking ship known as "The Bane of the Dark Gods" (It's the ominous looking ship, above).

"If you've experienced Hard Mode in Vault of Glass, you have some clues for how we can scale up a Raid," Bungie says in the weekly update. "Prepare to take better care of your teammates. You'll have fewer options for healing yourself, and each other."

Croat's End hard mode is set to launch in Destiny at 1pm Eastern on January 21.

Bungie
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ActivisionBungieCrotas-EndDestinymicrosoftplaystationps3ps4xboxxbox-oneThu, 15 Jan 2015 22:30:00 -050011|21130517http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/blizz-publishes-wows-blackrock-foundry-raiding-schedule/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/blizz-publishes-wows-blackrock-foundry-raiding-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/blizz-publishes-wows-blackrock-foundry-raiding-schedule/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
"It won't be long before you'll be able to take the assault against the Iron Horde to the next level in new raid content," Blizzard says in its latest World of Warcraft website update. The firm has released an unlock schedule for Blackrock Foundry with normal and heroic difficulties due for public consumption on February 3rd.

Mythic difficulty hits one week later while Raid Finder Wing 1: Slagworks (Gruul, Oregorger, and the Blast Furnace) debuts one week after that on February 17th.

Unlock schedule
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activisionblackrock-foundryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyraidingraidswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 14 Jan 2015 18:00:00 -0500319|21129873http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/first-cod-advanced-warfare-dlc-aims-for-late-january-launch/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Joystiq&ncid=rss_semi
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Havoc is the title of what publisher Activision is calling an "epic DLC pack" and the "definitive DLC offering" for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. In less grandiose terms, it's known as the game's first DLC pack.

Alongside the trailer beyond the break, and the images found above and in the gallery below, Activision sent over a brief synopsis of what's inside the near-future shooter's first major addition. Included are four new multiplayer maps, two new weapons and the Exo Zombies cooperative mode, which is less notable for its undead enemies than for its human protagonists played by big-name, established actors like John Malkovich and Bill Paxton.

It appears that Microsoft has struck up an exclusivity agreement with Activision as the Havoc DLC "will be available first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE for a suggested retail price of $15 on January 27." There's currently no word on when the DLC will reach other platforms.

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activisioncall-of-duty-advanced-warfaredlchavocmicrosoftxboxxbox-oneTue, 13 Jan 2015 21:00:00 -050011|21129115http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/psa-destiny-patch-repairs-crotas-bum-knee/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Joystiq&ncid=rss_semi
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Bungie issued a new patch for Destiny today, primarily providing fixes for issues with the Crota's End raid in the game's first expansion, The Dark Below. As the developer revealed late last week, the update zapped a glitch that allowed players to easily beat the raid boss, Crota, by unplugging one teammate's network cable. The "force quit" by one player previously caused Crota to enter an irrecoverable kneeling state, according to Bungie's patch notes.

Additionally, not only does the update fix a "rare case where the Shriekers would not spawn, preventing players from reaching the Deathsinger" enemy in the expansion, but the Deathsinger now has a chance to drop rare exotic gear and materials.

The Dark Below launched in December, bringing with it a slew of story missions and three Crucible arenas. The DLC is available for $20 on its own, or as part of Destiny's $35 season pass.

Bungie
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Activisionadd-onBungiedestinydestiny-the-dark-belowdlcexpansionexploitfixmicrosoftpatchplaystationps3ps4season-passthe-dark-belowupdatexboxxbox-oneMon, 12 Jan 2015 21:00:00 -050011|21128591http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/rumor-world-of-warcraft-may-be-prepping-a-free-veteran-editio/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/rumor-world-of-warcraft-may-be-prepping-a-free-veteran-editio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/rumor-world-of-warcraft-may-be-prepping-a-free-veteran-editio/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsWorld of Warcraft dataminers, while diving into the piles of information for the upcoming Patch 6.1, may have found game-changing evidence that the title is preparing a new free-to-play option.

The data files include several references to a "Veteran Edition," in a similar fashion to the already-existing Trial Edition, which allows players to level to 20 for free. The Veteran Edition has several limitations listed, including a level cap, money cap, and chat channel restrictions.

There's a lot of speculation going on right now as to whether or not the Veteran Edition will happen, and if it does what it will entail. MMO blogger Superior Realities theorizes that WoW will allow subscription-lapsed accounts to continue playing with the above restrictions.

MMO Champion, Superior Realities
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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusiness-modelbuy-to-playf2pfantasyfree-to-playstarter-editionveteran-editionwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 12 Jan 2015 14:00:00 -0500319|21128468http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/call-of-duty-online-public-beta-launches-in-china/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Joystiq&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/call-of-duty-online-public-beta-launches-in-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/call-of-duty-online-public-beta-launches-in-china/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Joystiq#commentsCall of Duty Online, the China-only freemium version of the mega franchise, is now in open beta for hundred of millions of Chinese. Announced several years ago, publisher Activision has taken a very disciplined approach in developing the game for the region.

"We've worked closely with our partner at Tencent, and we've challenged one of our most trusted and talented development teams of Raven Software to create a true Call of Duty experience tailored for the Chinese market," said Activisition Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg. "Throughout testing, the community feedback has been tremendous. We couldn't be more excited and we look forward to winning the hearts and minds of a new community in China."

Not to mention: all that cash! Almost every major publisher has made a deal with Tencent to get a piece of China's emerging market. Thanks to China's regulations governing international investment, the company has turned into the go-to gatekeeper to the region. That hasn't stopped Tencent from making outside investments of its own, including a minority stake in Epic Games and ownership of League of Legends developer Riot. Oh yeah, Tencent is also a massive "passive investor" in Activision.

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ActivisionActivision-Blizzardpctencenttencent-holdingsMon, 12 Jan 2015 11:30:00 -050011|21128260http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/a-new-world-of-warcraft-comic-book-series-is-on-the-way/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/a-new-world-of-warcraft-comic-book-series-is-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/a-new-world-of-warcraft-comic-book-series-is-on-the-way/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Lore doesn't just have to come at you via in-game text boxes; there are other mediums, such as comic books, that can help you understand a particular fantasy world. For example, Dark Horse Comics is preparing a new World of Warcraft series to explore the ancient history of Azeroth.

World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 will be the first of several issues that trace the backstory of the world in a time before the Horde and Alliance. Blizzard COO Paul Sams says that it's being done to sate fan curiosity: "We often get questions from players who want to know more about the origins of the Warcraft universe, and the rise and fall of their favorite characters. This new series digs deeply into all of that -- we can't wait for players to read it."

Unlike most comic books, Chronicle Volume 1 will be a hardbound edition. The series will go on sale this November in comic shops and book stores.

Dark Horse
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activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcomic-bookcomic-booksfantasygraphic-novelshistorylorepaul-samswarcraftworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-chroniclewowFri, 09 Jan 2015 19:00:00 -0500319|21127451http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/youll-soon-be-able-to-buy-wow-garrison-followers-directly/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/youll-soon-be-able-to-buy-wow-garrison-followers-directly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/youll-soon-be-able-to-buy-wow-garrison-followers-directly/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
If you missed out on snagging one of your World of Warcraft garrison followers or are willing to trade gold for time to complete your collection, then Blizzard is prepared to humbly accept your patronage. The studio announced on the forums that it will be adding a follower vendor in the next patch.

"One specific change I can share is in the next patch we're planning to add a new NPC to tier 3 garrisons who will sell followers you might not have access to based upon which buildings and outposts you've chosen," Community Manager Crithto wrote. "You'll be able to browse for followers you did not choose from quests and any you might have missed from failed missions."